How do I keep my chickens cool?

[cluckmecoop7]

Hi all,

It is July 4th, and a really hot day....I mean HOT. My chickens, a flock of 6 are out in there coop and run. They were panting a LOT and hanging there wings down the way chickens do to try and keep cool....well, cooler. I have a small black rubber tub thingy that I filled with cold water for them. They drank from it, and one of my Buff Orpington's went in it to cool down. I also refilled there real water container with fresh cold water, they liked that, too. But, they are still super hot, and thats why I logged in to ask this: Are there any other easy ways to get them more cool???

Don't say use a fan or sprinkler, thats out of the list.

Thank you so much!!

P.S. Please reply quick, my sweeties are very hot!

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

You can always freeze 2 liter bottles and place them on the ground.

 

[aart]

Been dealing with high 80's-90's for 10 days now.
Deep all day shade is the best, but not much of that here so....

I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves.
It really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
Can mix up a smaller amount, just wrap the packet tight and store in a dry cool place. Always have plain water available too.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.

Make space in your freezer!

You could just toss a pile of ice cubes on the ground in the shade for now.

 

[HuffleClaw]

There have been several discussions on this already.
Here is a pretty awesome article by @AnimalGeek23:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/keeping-your-chickens-cool-in-summer.74091/

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Thank you so much guys!

 

[aart]

There have been several discussions on this already.

Several dozen...at least, here's just a few:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/65955176/?q=hot+weather&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1

 

[GC-Raptor]

My girls hangout under their coops and dust bathe during the heat of summer. I also have all vents and windows open in the coops. I have water in and under the coops.
Both coops are also in the shade. . GC

 

[animallover2019]

when my chickens are hot and panting i usually make them a frozen treat! my chickens LOVE it on a hot day, of coarse this needs to be a little pre-planned due to the freezing part of it. i usually take a cake pan and fill it up with water, then drop some frozen or regular berries in there along with other things my chickens like, and plop it in my freezer until frozen. if you are adventures they love mealworms in it as well! but if you are using a nice cake pan..... then maybe not!!!

 

[Chickassan]

You could have a fan if you really wanted. It would just have to be usb so you could run off a rechargeable power bank like for cellphones.
Both are cheap, super cheap and can be found on Ebay.
Nothing is ever off the table, under it yes but not off it.

 

[Sueby]

I ended up putting ice cubes/blocks in their water & in their food (I make a mash with water & just throw in some ice cubes to melt) because whatever I tried they hated. They don't like fruit, or frozen anything, or super cold water, or putting their feet in water, etc.

I tried a plastic bin cover with a block of ice & water on it, but they wouldn't touch it. I gave up after a few days & dumped it out - that's where they started hanging out - on the wet spot of the lawn! So I started dumping some water buckets & that's where they go, where the ground is wet. What do I know.